Otis b



0. R-BULLARR VIOLIN ATTACHMENT.

- No. 467,768. Patented Ja n 26; 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS B. BULLARD, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VIOLIN ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,768, dated January 26, 1892. Application filed May 17, 1887- Serial No. 238,495. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTIS B. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violin Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to violin attachments, and more especially to that class which are intended to assist the performer in holding and retaining the violin in proper posit-ion for bowing and at the same time allow more freedom in fingering; and it consists in certain attachments, as more particularlypointed out hereinafter, that may be quickly and easily applied to any ordinary violin without change, and which will not interfere in any way with the sounds or vibrations produced thereby.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a violin, showing the attachments applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspecrive view of my invention used in connection with a chin-rest and support. Figs. 4 and 5 show various forms of holders.

The violin is usually held in position by the chin pressing the instrument against the collar-bone or shoulder of the performer, and it is found oftentimes, especially by beginners, that it is difficult and tiresome to so support the instrument, also Where the player is performing in different positions .or shifts requiring quick and extensive movements of the hand in fingering. I overcome this difficulty by applying an attachment to the violin which is adapted to hook or catch easily to the neckband of the shirt or collar or other part of the clothing of the operator, and to thereby hold the violin in position. By this means, especially when combined with my improved chin rest and support, the

instrument can be easily and securely held in proper position and the hand left free to move up and down upon the neck of the instrument in fingering.

The holder D may be made of suitable material and is adapted to be detachably fastened to the violin.

InFigs. 1 and 2 I have shown one form of holderD, consisting of a single piece of metal having a side flange d with a recess (1, forming a sort of hook d adapted to fit over the tail-pin E and under the strings connecting the tail-piece F thereto. A projection d rests bent portion bears upon the body of the instrument under the upper rim or edge, so that the holder is securely and tightly held in place. A tongue or strip G extends from the .on the lower rim or edge of the violin, and a upper portion of the body of the holder outand B, of any suitable material, adapted to be interposed between the metal of the holder and the body of the violin to prevent marrlng thereof, such blocks being for this purpose lined with strips of leather or felt,if desired. It will be understood, of course, that either one of the blocks A or B might be employed without the other. The exposed faces of these. blocks are by preference so shaped that the upper one A forms a chin-rest and the lower one B a support resting against the body of the person for the violin. It will be seen that this construction is exceedingly simple and inexpensive, and that it may be formed from a single piece of metal and be secured to the violin by any desired means eitherin connection with a chin-rest or support, or both.

' In Fig. 4 I have illustrated another form of holder in which the band C has a lateral extension H, which fits over the tail-pin E and serves to aid in maintaining the holder in position, the arm Gr being bent outward and downward, as before, and preferably being formed in one piece with the band and the projection.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a form of separable holder adapted to be used in connection with a band C. It has a lateral extension H, adapted to bear against the side of the violin, and has two lips or tongues h h, adapted to embrace the band C on opposite sides.

It will be seen that by the use of my invention, as above described, the violin may be safely and securely held in'position when being operated upon, and it is obvious that the parts of my invention may be used together or separately, as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with the violin, of a holder consisting of a single piece of metal adapted to be secured to the Violin and havinga tongue projecting outward and downward therefrom that is adapted to engage wi th the neckband of the operator, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with aviolin, of a holder consisting of a band of metal having its ends bent at an angle to secure the same to the Violin and provided with an outwardly and 

